Interactive map: death penalty for drug offences 2018

All data contained in the map are the minimum known number of executions and death sentences from 2018. The figures are extracted from our report: Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2018, available here, and regularly updated when new information becomes available.

High application states

Low application states

Symbolic application states

Insufficient data

LEGISLATION TABLE

The following table provides a snapshot of the different drug laws in place in high application countries, prescribing the imposition of capital punishment for drug offences. Although a degree of simplification is inevitable, this comparison shows how diverse – and inconsistent – these laws are.

The symbol ‘T’ means an offence is punishable by death only if committed “for the purpose of trafficking”.

Explanation for the offences:

The death penalty is reported as mandatory if it is the only punishment available for at least certain drug offences or those presenting certain circumstances. This prevents judges from exercising discretion and tailoring the punishment to the circumstances of the case and the individual.

Production: any act of manufacturing, producing or cultivating a drug. This includes any reference to: manufacture, cultivate, prepare, transform a plant or substance, extract a substance, separate, refine or process.

Possession: the mere possession or owning of a substance.

Trafficking: any act of smuggling, trading, exchanging or selling a drug. This includes any reference to the following acts: smuggle, receive from a smuggler, purchase, buy, sell, transport, trans-ship, cause the transit of, administer, distribute, import, export, deal in, carry, offer to be sold, broker, give, receive, send, procure, supply, offer or advertise for sale, exchange, accept, be an intermediary in sale and purchase, acquire or deliver.

Aiding and abetting: any act of support or complicity to a criminally-relevant behaviour involving drugs, for which the death penalty is envisaged. This includes reference to: carry a firearm or a hunting weapon with the intention of opposing [law enforcement] officials, assisting in the trade or acting as an intermediary

Other drug offences:

Use arms to cover up smuggling, trafficking, transporting or manufacturing drugs

Use violence to resist inspection, detention or arrest in a serious situation

Take part in organised international drug trafficking activities

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Trafficking and production:

Opium: 1,000g

Heroin: 50g

Other narcotics: “large quantity” Other offences: no minimum quantity

CUBA 6

Is it mandatory? NO

Production: ✓ T

Possession: ✓ T

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ✓

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Financing drug crimes: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ✓ T

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

“Drugs, psychotropic substance or any other substance with similar effects”.

No minimum quantities specified.

The death penalty can only be imposed if these crimes are committed by a public official or with public resources; or, for trafficking if as part of an international operation.

EGYPT 7

Is it mandatory? NO

Production: ✓ T

Possession: ✓ T

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ✓

Financing drug crimes: ✓

Involving minors in drug crimes: ✓

Other drug offences:

Divert legally possessed substance

Induce or coerce others into using

Even abroad, forms or manage, join, have complicity in an organization whose objective is provide or trading in narcotic substances or provision of such substances, or commit any of these drug-related offences

Possession and storing (first offence):

IRAQ 11

Is it mandatory? NO

Production: ◻

Possession: ◻

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ◻

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Death penalty only imposed when trafficking is committed “with aim of funding or abetting activities using force or violence aimed at overthrowing the State or terrorist acts where casualties resulted”

JORDAN 12

Is it mandatory? YES

Production: ◻

Possession: ◻

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ◻

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Substances and quantities not available.

Death penalty only imposed if:

Offender participated in an international drug trafficking gang

Crime was committed in conjunction with other international crimes (such as arm smuggling or money counterfeiting)

KUWAIT 13

Is it mandatory? YES

Production: ◻

Possession: ◻

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Financing drug crimes: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ✓

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Substances and quantities not available.

LAO PDR 14

Is it mandatory? YES

Production: ✓

Possession: ✓

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Financing drug crimes: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ◻

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Heroin: 500 g

Amphetamines of psychotropic substances: 3000 g

Precursors: 10 kg

LIBYA 15

Is it mandatory? NO

Production: ✓ T

Possession: ◻

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Financing drug crimes: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ◻

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Any narcotic or psychotropic substance as defined in the controlled drugs schedules.

No minimum quantities specified

MALAYSIA 16

Is it mandatory? YES

Production: ✓

Possession: ✓ T

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ✓

Aiding/Abetting: ✓ T

Involving minors in drug crimes: ◻

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

Possession presumed for trafficking:

Heroin: 15g

Opium: 1,000g

Cannabis: 200g

Cocaine: 40g

Amphetamines: 50g

Part of a list of over 160 substances

MAURITANIA 17

Is it mandatory? NO

Production: ✓ *

Possession: ✓ *

Trafficking: ✓ *

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ◻

Financing drug crimes: ◻

Involving minors in drug crimes: ◻

Other drug offences:

Minimum quantities activating the death penalty

High risk drugs

(schedules not available)

Aggravating circumstances:

The offense is committed in a framework of organised crime

Where violence or weapons have been used by whoever committed the crime

Where the drugs have caused death

MYANMAR 18

Is it mandatory? YES

Production: ✓

Possession: ✓ T

Trafficking: ✓

Storing: ◻

Aiding/Abetting: ✓

Financing drug crimes: ✓

Involving minors in drug crimes: ✓

Other drug offences:

Communicating to effect import and export of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance